The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-01-15
PROGRESSIVE JAPAN.
CHANGE IN MANNERS AND COSTUME
DURING THE LAST DECADE.

dhIsm-Schools and Coneges-The EN-
peror's Promises-Trade of the Island.
Among the late arrivals from Japan were
". c. De Lano Eastlake and his mother, who
are visiting San Francisco ON their way east.
Mr.. Eastlake is secretary of the Society for
the Advancement of Medical Science in
Japan and member of the Asiatic society,
and has, during the three years Of his res
idence in the orient, become thoroughly &C
uuainted with the manners and customs OF
the people and not less familiar with the
country, both in political and physical sense.
In an interview with reporter Mr.. East
lake portrayed in glowing colors the country
and its people.
The people, he said, are fast advancing in
the civilization of their political, moral and
intellectual lives, and scarcely without excep-
ton are anxious to reap the benefits of Euro
pean and American education In the Gus
toms of dress there has been marked change
during the last decade until now the officials
and the better classes assume the English COS
tune Among the former it is compulsory,
and upon the street the old japanese garb is
seldom seen except on the poorer classes.
Among the ladies, however, the loose gowns
of the olden days are still popular, but even
these are gradually growing obsolete and at
fashionable balls the European dress is gen
orally assumed, while the programmes of the
Japanese Orchestras generally include the best
of English music.
BANGS AND WHITE TEETH.
The odd yet picturesque style of hair dress
ing which has so long prevailed i'll the coun-
try has been superseded by that of the Amer
lean women, and the fair foreheads of the
royal ladies are already hidden by the bang SO
common in our own country. The fashions,
however, are not set by the empress The
style adopted by the minister's wives is con-
sidered quite the proper thing, and, following
their example, all ladies of culture have
dropped the custom of backing their teeth
and shaving their eyebrows
'The intellectual progress of the people of
Japan" said Mr.. Eastlake, 'has been almost
unparalleled. Not only has the educational
system been established all over the empire,
but the capital city boasts of university that
can compare favorably with the best colleges
of the continent. German professors promi-
nent for scientific ability and research, have
filled the chairs i'll the scientific and medical
departments of the Imperial university, while
in literature, both ancient and modern, Eng
lish and American men of advanced thought
have been chosen as instructors. Recently
the staff of foreign professors has been di-
minished and the vacancies filled by Japan
csc Iiterati who have returned from study
abroad.
'The works of Huxley, Spencer, Darwin
and others have been translated into Japan
csc, and are familiar handbool1s to students in
Japan. The promulgators of Christianity
find that they have proud skepticism to con-
tend with The japanese talk of the 'evolu-
ton of species and the nebular hypothesis as
glibly as our learned men. Buddhism is still
the Predominating faith, but Christianity is
rapidly establishing itself among the more
Ia Al,
high officials express extreme bitterness to the
doctrine and its introduction. This bitterness
is SO great that to profess Christianity means
the loss of an official position. The people
are not conservative, however, and it is only
a question of time when the Christian faith
will be accepted throughout the country. In
all the large cities public schools are main
tained and it is compulsory that after attain
ing a certain age children shall be sent to
school. In Toxic there are two large law
schools, one of which is conducted in the
French and the other in the English language
Added to these is an engineering college, with
its library of over 20, 900 volumes and its ex-
tensive laboratories, which have been recently
merged with the Imperial college.
THE EMPEROR'S PROMISES.
"Political affairs are not behind in the on
ward march of civilization, and the chief ex-
element of the country now is the prepare
ton for the national assembly promised for
1890. The ground is already purchased and
the assembly buildings commenced, although
there is naturally some misrepresentation on
the part of suspicious minds that the govern
ment may not carry out its promises to the
people. As it now stands, the government is
in the hands of the emperor, assisted by the
senate and house of lords, which in japanese
is called 'Gen-rO-in.' The national assembly
will be composed of representatives elected
by the people from the various districts into
which the country is divided, thus making
the empire a partial republic. Laws regard
ing press criticism and public speech are very
and in neither is criticism of the |
government allowed. Regarding Japans re- |
lations with America 1 am able to speak at
length My visit to this country is in the in
tereSt of an extension of the mercantile |
traffic. The United States and its people are |
regarded with great respect by the japanese, !
and in their eyes, as The Jill ShiTnpo, one of |
the leading journals, expresses it, America !
stands out i'll the world like a poisoning |
plum branch among a thicket of brambles |
difusing a rich fragrance and compelling the |
admiration of ali for her great name and |
rigorous policy
america is Japan's largest customer in a [
way, while, on the other hand, |
none of the staple products of the United |
OtdOcSs OACCpG hSIOSSlEc, bu0H way TO |
Japan.
"The railroads of Japan are constantly be
ing extended and there are now six COM
oanies, embracing about 700 miles of road
These are equipped with English locomo-
ives, cars and rails, but Germany is making
every effort to secure this trade, and con-
ract has recently been awarded to German
irms for furnishing the rails for eight years
You would be surprised to see American
treet cars rolling along the streets of Toxic,
tut there are many OF them and these with
he jinrikishu, or pullman cars, are the prin-
ipal public conveyances The latter may be
tired for seventy-five cents a day, and the
treet cars carry passengers for a moderate
barge, ranging from two to eight cents, ac-
ording to the distance Travelled. San Fran
isco Chronicle.
Girls at the Seaside.
l have carefully looked around me for
ONE of those fair maids of the shore you
6Ofir Il d. Il.